Air distribution assembly



Dec. 23, 1958 H. L. HOWE AIR DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 1, 1956 R a m u mm M 4 H 0 w W \u m 9 4 L 2 l 2 N M F A U Y B 3 a 1 V 411% ill/4.1121 2% economical to manufacture.

United States Patent 2,865,277 AIR DISTRIBUTEON ASSEMBLY Harlan L. Howe, De Witt, N. Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1956, Serial No. 613,194 1 Claim. (Cl. 9840) This invention relates to an air distribution member such as a louver and, more particularly, to a spring mounting for a louver or member having fixed slats whereby the louver can be bodily placed in various positions to direct air in a different direction in each of its positions.

It is the chief object of this invention to provide a spring mounting for a louver, of the kind used in an air distribution assembly associated with an air conditioning unit or the like, which occupies a minimum of space and thus enables other elements of the air conditioning unit to be spaced very closely to the louver.

It is another object of this invention to provide an air distribution assembly into which a spring mounted louver can be easily and economically assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical spring mounting for a louver which has its slats fixedly mounted in a frame, said spring mounting enabling the louver to be placed in a plurality of different positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air distribution assembly including a springmounted louver which isvsimple in construction, reliable in operation, and

Other objects of the invention will be perceived from the followingdescription.

The present invention relates to an air distribution assembly including a spring mounting for a louver having .a plurality of slats fixedly mounted therein, this mounting enabling the louver to be selectively positioned with the slats pointing in different .directions' The louver is adapted to be seated in a frame having seats formed therein and is movably attached to the frame by two band or fiat springs attached to its rear. More specifically, the bandsprings each have one end attached to the frame and their other ends overlapping each other. The overlapping ends of the springs have elongated slots formed therein. A bolt is threaded into the rear of the louver at its exact center and extends through the slots in the springs, the head of the bolt effectively bearing against the slotted ends of the springs and thus drawing the louver and springs into assembled relationship. The band springs bias the louver so that when it is assembled with the springs in the above described manner, the springs will tend to pull the louver into seated position in the frame on which it is mounted. If itis desired to change the position of the louver in the frame, the louver ispulled out of seating engagement with the frame against the bias of the springs and rotated. When the louver is released, the springs will pull it back into seated relationship with the frame. The elongated slots in the springs provide the necessary play to permit the louver to be withdrawn from the frame. The foregoing air distribution assembly allows alouver having slats fixedly mounted therein to be positioned so that its slats can se- .lectively point in different directions to discharge air Figure 3 is a partial isometric view of the device of Figure l, with certain parts broken away and with certain parts omitted in the interest of clarity showing the structure for seating the louver in the frame and showing the positions which the band springs take under various conditions; and

Figure 4 is a detail view taken on line IVIV of Figure 1 showing the boltassembly for attaching the band springs to the louver.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawing wherein an air conditioning unit chassis 10 is shown in phantom. It will be appreciated that 10 may also be a duct for delivering conditioned air from a remote source. In Figures 1, 2, and 3 a frame 11 is shown which is adapted to be attached to the air conditioning unit chassis 10. Frame 11 has an inside dimension which is slightly larger than the outside dimension of air conditioning unit chassis 10, and thus it fits neatly over the front of the unit and is secured thereto by bolts 12 which extend through recessed flanges 13 (which are formed integrally with frame 11) and similar flanges (not shown) formed on air conditioning unit chassis ltl. Frame 11 is generally of channel shape (Figure 3), and it is preferably fabricated from plastic, but it can be made out of metal or any other suitable material.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that a plurality of louvers 14, 15, 16, and 17 of identical construction are assembled in frame 11. Louvers 14 and 15' are movably mounted in frame 11 so that their positions can be changed in a manner to be fully described hereafter. Louvers 16 and 17 may also be movably mounted in frame 11 or they may be fixedly mounted therein.

The structure of louver 15will now be described, it being understood that the remaining louvers can be of identical construction. From Figure 3.it can be seen that louver 15 consists of a square frame 18 in which a plurality of parallel slats 19 are positioned. It is to be noted that While slats 19 are parallel to each other they are inclined to the parallel frame sides 20 and 21. A support strut 22 extends betwen sides 20 and 21 of louver frame 18 to lend support to slats 19. A knob 23 is centrally located on the front face of the louver to facilitate the grasping thereof when it is desired to pull the louver from the frame. The louvers are preferably molded in one piece from plastic or they can be fabricated from wood, metal, or any other suitable material. Louver 15 can be withdrawn from frame .11, rotated any multiple of and because of its square shape reserted into seated relationship in frame 11. Thus louver 15 can be oriented in frame 11 in one of four different positions, it being noted that the air which passes through the louver moves in a different direction for each of its positions.

In Figures 2 and 3 the structure for seating the louvers in frame 11 is shown. A recessed ledge 24 is formed on the inside edge of frame 11. A band of metal 25 has each of its ends 26 (Figure 3) offset from its central portion. These ends are affixed as by screws 27 to tabs 28 .which extend from the rear of ledge 24 of frame 11. As an alternate construction, tabs 28 may be aflixed to and extend from the air conditioning unit chassis .10. It is to be noted that the front surface of band 25 lies in the same plane as does the front surface of ledge 24. Thus when louver 15 is in seated position in frame 11, it has two of its edges resting on recessed ledge 24 and one edge resting on metal band 25.

The spring structure which movably retains louver 15 in frame 11 will now be described. A band of metal 29 (Figure 3) has an offset end 30 afi'ixed to the center of band 25 as by welding. The other end of band 29 can either be suitably attached to the rear of recessed ledge 24 or affixed to a suitable bracket (not shown) on the air conditioner chassis 10. It is to be noted at this point that if bands 25 and 29 are attached to the frame 11 itself, that frame 11 and the spring mounted louvers can be removed from the air conditioning unit chassis by merely removing screws 12 (Figure 2); A- band spring 31 is affixed at its center to band by bolt 32. Elongated slots 33 and 34 are formed proximate the ends of band spring 31. A band spring 35', which cooperates with the left end of spring 31, has one end'attached by screw 36 to bracket 37 which can eitherbe attached to frame 11 at the rear of ledge 24 or to an appropriate part of the air conditioning unit chassis 10. Band spring 38, which cooperates with the right end of spring 31, has one end affixed by screw 39 to bracket 40, which is afifixed relative to frame 11 in the same manner as bracket 37. Band springs '35 and 38 have slots 41 and 42, respectively, formed in their ends which are remote from their points of attachment to the frame. It is to be noted that after band springs 31, 35, and 38 are assembled relative to frame 11 in the above described man ner, but before they are attached to the louvers, their shape causes their slotted ends to normally extend rearwardly away from the face of frame 11, as indicated by the phantom line position of band spring 35 and the left end of band spring 31, as shown in Figure 3.

In Figures 3 and 4 the assembled relationship between louver and the spring structure can be seen. A bolt 43 extends through superposed slots 34 and 42 of band. springs 31 and 38, respectively, and threads into tapped metallic insert 44 which is imbedded in an enlarged portion of strut 22 of louver 15. An exploded View of insert 44 and bolt 43 can be seen in Figure 3. Bolt 43 has an enlarged, unthreaded shoulder 45 which fits into the slots of the superposed ends of band springs 38 and 31, and

thus permits the springs to move relative to each other 4 without too much looseness, as shown in Figure 4. The head 46 of bolt 43 is of greater diameter than the slots in the band springs and thus draws the springs up from their relaxed phantom line position and causes them to assume a substantially straight line position, as shown in Figure 3. When the parts are so assembled, the band springs bias the louver 15 into seated relationship with recessed ledge 24 and band of frame 11.

It is to be noted that the band springs and the associated structure which attaches them to both the louvers and the frame require very little depth, and thus these elements will not interfere with an element, such as the air conditioner cooling coil (not shown), which is desirably positioned as close to the louvers as possible.

If it is desired to change the orientation of louver 15 in frame 11 so that air will be directed in a different direction, louver 15 is drawn away from its seated position in frame 11 by pulling on knob 23. When withdrawn, louver 15 can be rotated any multiple of 90 and reinserted into frame 11 because louver 15' is square and because the axis of bolt 43 lies on the exact center of louver 15. The position which the band springs take when the louver is withdrawn is shown in"Figure 3 by the solid line positions of spring and the left end of spring 31, the louver attached thereto'having been removed for the sake of clarity. Slots 33 and 41 allow the ends of band springs 31 and 35, respectively, to move relative to each other to assume the aforementioned solid line position and thus allow the louver to be withdrawn from its seated position. The limit of outward movement of the louver occurs when the ends of slots 33 and 41 abut the shoulder of bolt 43. i It: is to be noted that the sharp ends 47 and 48 of band springs 35 and 38, respectively, are bent rearwardly and thus cannot contact the rear of spring 31 and cause binding.

In summary, the spring mounted louver assembly of the present invention is assembled and operates in the following manner: The normal position of the slotted band springs after attachment to frame 11, but before attachment to a louver is characterized bythe phantom economically; and which is reliable in operation.

4 line positions of springs 31 and 35. After the band springs have been attached to a louver, such as 15, by means of bolt 43 extending through the slotted portions of the band springs, these springs assume a substantially straight line position, as shown by band springs 31 and 38, and bias the louver into seated engagement with recessed ledge .24 and metal band 25 affixed to frame 11. Should it be desired to re-orient the louver in the frame 11 to change the direction of air flow, the louver is withdrawn from seated engagement with the frame against the bias of the band springs, the cooperating pairs of elongated slots, such as 33 and 41, providing the necessary play to permit this withdrawah The ends of the slots define the limit of outward travel of the louver. When the louver is in its withdrawn position the band springs assume the position characterized by the solid line positions of band springs 31 and 35 in Figure 3, Once the louver is withdrawn, it can be rotated any multiple of When it is released, the band springs will pull the louver back into seated engagement with frame 11.

. It canreadily be seen from the foregoing description that I have devised an air distribution assembly including a springmounted louver in which the spring structure requires a small space; which contains but a few relatively simple parts; which can be fabricated easily and This air distribution assembly permits a louver in which the slats are fixedly placed to be selectively positioned in any one of a number of positions so that air can be directed through it in a plurality of different directions. It will be appreciated that any desired number of louvers may be assembled together to form a grille for an air conditioning unit, for example.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may otherwise be embodied within 'the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In'combination with a frame adapted to be placed over an open end of an air conditioning unit, the frame including a recessed ledge on its inner edge, a first member having an offset end secured to the ledge at opposite sides thereof, and a second member extending at an'anglc thereto attached to the opposite sides of the ledge and to the first member, a spring mounted louver assembly adapted to be placed within the frame, said assembly comprising a plurality of louvers, each louver including a frame of substantially square contour, a plurality of parallel slats, and a support strut extending from side to side of the louver frame to support said slats, a first band spring secured to said second member intermediate its ends, said first band spring having slots formed adjacent its ends, a second band spring having an end attached to the recessed ledge of the frame, the opposite end thereof having a slot therein placed in superposed relation with a slot in the first band spring, a fastening member adjustably secured to the strut of a first louver extending through the superposed slotsfor fastening the first and second band springs to the first louver to resiliently hold the same on the frame, a third band spring having an end attached to the recessed ledge on the opposite side of the frame, the opposite end of the third band spring having a slot therein placed in superposed relation with the remaining slot of the first band spring, and a secondfastening member adjustably secured to the strut of a second louver extending through the superposed slots of the first band spring and the third band spring for fastening the second louver to the first and third band springs to resiliently hold the same on the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

